Written Answers Tuesday 3 October 2006

Scottish Executive

Alcohol and Drug Misuse

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what residential in-patient facilities for treating patients with serious alcohol and drug dependency problems there are; what their capacity is, and which NHS board areas have no such facilities.

Lewis Macdonald: Since 2002-03 each Alcohol and Drug Action Team has been tasked with producing annual Corporate Action Plans which contain information on the numbers of alcohol rehabilitation places available at local level across Scotland. These plans are available on the Information and Statistics Division Scotland website at:

  http://www.drugsmisuse.isdscotland.org/dat/cap/dat.htm.

  Additional information can be obtained direct from NHS boards. Information is not available centrally on tackling alcohol problems prior to 2002-03.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what enquiries it is making into the circumstances surrounding the suicide of Zamira Sadigova.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is not currently making enquiries into this individual case. The Mental Welfare Commission has powers to investigate individual cases if they have concerns about the care and treatment received.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it advocates the concept of a lead professional to help provide services for asylum seekers who have been assessed as requiring care under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive expects NHS boards and partners to plan and arrange services that meet the needs of asylum seekers. We have not issued guidance on whether they should appoint a lead professional for asylum seekers.

Biodiversity

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have been awarded grants under the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme since its inception.

Rhona Brankin: The Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme has been run three times (2004, 2005, and 2006). Ten different local authorities in Scotland have received a total of 14 grants under the scheme for projects led directly by the local authority. In addition, two of these authorities and four other authorities are members of wider partnerships that have received grants under the scheme.

Children

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken into the effects of ambient noise pollution on children with (a) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (b) autistic spectrum disorder and (c) cognitive development impairment and what the results of any such studies were.

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken into the effects of air pollution on children with (a) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (b) autistic spectrum disorder and (c) cognitive development impairment and what the results of any such studies were.

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken into the effects of soil pollution on children with (a) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (b) autistic spectrum disorder and (c) cognitive development impairment and what the results of any such studies were.

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken into the effects of water pollution on children with (a) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (b) autistic spectrum disorder and (c) cognitive development impairment and what the results of any such studies were.

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken into the effects of chemical pollution on children with (a) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (b) autistic spectrum disorder and (c) cognitive development impairment and what the results of any such studies were.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has not undertaken studies into the effects of chemical pollution in air, water or soil on children suffering from these disorders.

  The Scottish Executive Health Department maintains an overview of these public health issues and takes advice on the health effects of environmental factors on all sectors of the Scottish population from a number of relevant agencies including the Health Protection Agency, Health Protection Scotland, and from expert committees including the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants and the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products, and the Environment.

Discrimination

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the report of the House of Commons all party parliamentary inquiry into anti-Semitism in September 2006 and whether it will take action in respect of any of the report’s conclusions.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is considering the report of the House of Commons all party parliamentary inquiry into anti-Semitism. However, the Executive has worked with all faith communities, including the Jewish communities, for a number of years and we will continue to engage with, support and help address their needs.

Football

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money it has given the Scottish Football Partnership to match the £63 million given over four years in England to the Football Foundation.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Football Partnership was established to distribute Scotland’s share of funds held by the now dissolved Football Trust. The Football Trust’s funds comprised donations from the Football Associations of England, Scotland and Wales, the FA Premier League, the English Sports Council, Littlewoods Spot the Ball and the Reduction in Pools Betting Duty account. The Scottish Football Partnership’s share was £4.8 million and the Football Foundation’s in England was £63 million.

  No further public funds will be made available to the Scottish Football Partnership.

Football

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it announced its policy of creating new indoor full-size football pitches; what the current position is in respect of each project, and (a) what progress is being made on, (b) how much has been spent on and (c) what the budget is of each project.

Patricia Ferguson: Football will be a major beneficiary from our National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy launched in March 2003. Of the ten projects allocated Stage One funding under that strategy in 2004, five include full-size indoor football pitches. Progress and funding for each of those projects is set out in the following table.

  

 
Award* (Estimated Project Cost)
Expected/Actual Site Start Date
Expected Project Completion Date


 Westfield Stadium, Falkirk 
£3 million (£8 million)
 June 2007
 May 2008


 Hunters Hall, Edinburgh
£3 million (£35.1 million)
 June 2008
 October 2009


 Linksfield, Aberdeen
£5 million (£23 million)
 June 2007
 August 2008


 Toryglen, Glasgow
£3 million (£14.5 million)
 August 2006
 September 2008


 Ravenscraig, North Lanarkshire
£5 million (£18.1 million)
 June 2007
 September 2008



  Notes:

  *The level of award and estimated project cost is determined by the size and scope of each project. Each project will receive £3 million towards its football facility element.

  [Also, as part of the work being done to implement the Youth Football Action Plan, the SFA has set up a facilities development steering group to develop a national facilities strategy for football.]

Forestry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme payments from April to July 2006, showing the total grant paid for (a) productive forest, (b) native woodland, (c) riparian habitat, (d) urban improvement and (e) farmed landscapes.

Rhona Brankin: A full breakdown of grants approved and paid under the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS) detailing the individual schemes, locations, SFGS objectives and the grant recipients is available on Forestry Commission Scotland’s website at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6t5ffx . The information requested is given in the following tables.

  SFGS Payments made from 1 April 2006 to 31 July 2006

  

 
 Establishment


£ Million
 Hectares


 Productive forest
 1.1
 855


 Native woodland
 3.3
 1,203


 Riparian Habitat
 2.1
 539


 Urban Improvement
 0.6
 87


 Farmed Landscape
 0.9
 422


 Total
 8
 3,106



  

 
 Restocking


£ Million
 Hectares


 Productive forest
 2.2
 2,822


 Native woodland
 0.4
 216


 Riparian Habitat
 0.1
 66


 Urban Improvement
 0.02
 13


 Farmed Landscape
 0.2
 123


 Total
 2.92
 3,240



  

 Stewardship


 
£ Million


 Improving Timber Quality
 0.1


 Reducing Deer Numbers
 0.06


 Native Woodlands
 0.3


 Improving Woodland Biodiversity
 0.4


 Landscape Improvement
 0.3


 Developing Alternative Systems to Clearfell
 0.06


 Woodland Recreation
 1.6


 Developing Community Involvement
 0.03


 Total
 2.85

Forestry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what total hectarage of combined native woodland and riparian habitat Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme payments were made from April to July 2006 and what the average payment was in that period for (a) native woodland and (b) riparian habitat.

Rhona Brankin: A full breakdown of grants approved and paid under the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS) detailing the individual schemes, locations, SFGS objectives and the grant recipients is available on Forestry Commission Scotland’s website at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6t5ffx . The information requested is given in the following tables.

  SFGS Payments made from 1 April 2006 to 31 July 2006

  

 Establishment


 
£ Million
 Hectares
 Average payment


 Native Woodland
 3.3
 1,203
£2,743/ha


 Riparian Habitat
 2.1
 539
£3,896/ha


 Totals
 5.4
 1,742
£3,100/ha



  

 Restocking


 
£ Million
 Hectares
 Average payment


 Native Woodland
 0.4
 216
£1,852/ha


 Riparian Habitat
 0.1
 66
£1,515/ha


 Totals
 0.5
 282
£1,773/ha



  

 Stewardship


 
£ Million


 Native / Riparian Woodlands
 0.7


 Total
 0.7

Forestry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the total hectarage of combined native woodland and riparian habitat on which Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme payments were made from April to July 2006 amounted to 397 hectares; whether the average payments in the period were nearly £10,000 for native woodland and nearly £16,000 for riperian habitat and, if so, whether it considers that these payments represent value for money.

Rhona Brankin: The total hectarage of native woodland and riparian habitat grant-aided under the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS) between April and July 2006 amounted to 1,742 hectares of new planting and 282 hectares of restocking. The average payments are given in the following tables.

  SFGS Payments Made from 1 April 2006 to 31 July 2006

  

 Establishment


 
£ Million
 Hectares
 Average payment


 Native Woodland
 3.3
 1,203
£2,743/ha


 Riparian Habitat
 2.1
 539
£3,896/ha


 Total
 5.4
 1,742
£3,100/ha



  

 Restocking


 
£ Million
 Hectares
 Average payment


 Native Woodland
 0.4
 216
£1,852/ha


 Riparian Habitat
 0.1
 66
£1,515/ha


 Total
 0.5
 282
£1,773/ha



  

 Stewardship


 
£ Million


 Native/Riparian Woodlands
 0.7


 Total
 0.7

Housing

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what protection tenants have from being disadvantaged in terms of their right-to-buy in the event of a local authority issuing a notice of refusal to a sitting tenant in relation to the purchase of a house built by a local authority on land which is subsequently discovered to be outwith the ownership of the authority.

Malcolm Chisholm: The seller of a right-to-buy house is legally obliged to "deliver a good and marketable title" to the purchaser under conditions of sale, as set out in section 64 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987. This protects the tenant from any legal difficulties which might be encountered if the landlord tries to sell a house in which ownership could subsequently be disputed. Where the landlord is not the owner of the land on which the house stands, the right-to-buy does not apply.

  On the extremely rare occasions when a landlord discovers that it does not hold title to the land on which the house stands, the landlord may seek to open negotiations with the owner of the land to obtain title. Where this is not possible, for example, because the owner or their representative cannot be traced, then a local authority can propose to purchase the land compulsorily, subject to Scottish ministers’ approval, through a Compulsory Purchase Order.

  Where the market value of the house has significantly increased, after title has successfully been obtained, the tenant could ask the landlord to consider a voluntary sale under section 14 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987. These powers are entirely discretionary, and it would be a matter for the landlord to determine and agree to sell, perhaps at the market value which would have applied at the time of the original application to buy. Consents under section 14 of 1987 act also require the Scottish ministers’ approval.

Maritime Issues

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific contacts and discussion it has had with the UK Government about the European Commission’s marine strategy and the draft directive on marine services, in particular about devolving responsibility to the Executive for an extended area of UK territorial waters.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has a very close working relationship with the UK Government on the European marine strategy and the associated proposed Directive, with frequent contacts and discussions between officials and ministers as appropriate. Officials from the Scottish Executive’s Marine Group have attended two of the relevant European Council Working Group discussions in Brussels and representatives for the Scottish Executive’s EU Office in Brussels have attended a further two such meetings. The Scottish Executive shares the UK Government’s stance on both the marine strategy and the proposed Directive, which is to be generally supportive of the overall objectives of both but to seek greater clarity about the terms, and more analysis of costs and benefits, of the latter.

  There have been no discussions between the Scottish Executive and the UK Government about further devolution within the context of the European Commissions marine strategy and proposed Directive.

Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether cognisance is taken of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 when agreeing new industrial planning applications where an environmental impact assessment has specified that European protected species are present.

Rhona Brankin: The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 places a range of duties and obligations on public bodies, including planning authorities. It is the responsibility of all such public bodies to take cognisance of the act in exercising their functions.

Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that local authorities comply with their duties under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.

Rhona Brankin: The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 places a range of duties and obligations on local authorities in order to conserve biodiversity and protect SSSIs. It is the responsibility of local authorities to ensure that they comply with the duties and obligations in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 in carrying out their functions.

Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints, investigations and prosecutions there have been under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.

Rhona Brankin: There is no central system for recording complaints, investigations and prosecutions under wildlife legislation. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service maintains an operational database for internal management purposes and Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland are working on the development of a wildlife crime recording system. In the course of undertaking its responsibilities Scottish Natural Heritage also acquires and makes use of information about actual and potential offences under nature conservation law.

Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it complies with its obligations under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 in areas where no geographical information system data exists.

Rhona Brankin: I am not aware of any impediment to the Scottish Executive meeting its obligations under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 as a result of a lack of geographical information system data.

Pensions

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish proposals for the reform of the Scottish NHS and Teachers’ Pension Schemes.

Mr Tom McCabe: Consultation papers setting out proposals for the reform of the Scottish NHS and Teachers’ Superannuation Schemes are being published today, with a closing date for responses of 5 January 2007. Copies of each consultation paper are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 40545 and 40544 respectively) or via the Scottish Public Pension Agency (SPPA) website on http://www.sppa.gov.uk .

  In 2004 and 2005 the Scottish Public Pensions Agency consulted on a number of options for reforms to the Teachers and NHS pension schemes in Scotland. The responses indicated a very strong preference for the retention of a final salary pension scheme and for existing scheme members to retain their current main pension benefits. The proposals published today would retain a normal pension age of 60 for all existing members of each scheme and retain a final salary pension for both existing and new staff. At the same time the proposals will ensure that the pension schemes are sustainable in the long term, generating significant savings compared to current arrangements, with limits placed on the future costs to employers and increased contributions from employees. The Government Actuary’s Department has estimated that the reforms to the Scottish NHS and Teachers’ pension schemes will deliver around £0.5 billion (NHS) and £0.4 billion (Teachers) over 50 years. These form part of the £13.5 billion overall public service pension reform savings expected by HM Treasury from the NHS, Teachers’ and Civil Service schemes across the UK.

  NHS Pension Scheme

  The changes to the NHS scheme are joint proposals agreed by the Scottish Pensions Review Group, a partnership between employers and staff representatives of the Scottish NHS and the Scottish Executive. Similar proposals are currently under consultation in England and Wales. For existing NHS scheme members, the main proposals include:

  Keeping a normal pension age of 60 (or 55 for staff with special rights) and the right to take a pension after the age of 50;

  Keeping a final salary pension with 1/80th accrual rate and 3/80th lump sum for each year of service based on the best of the last three years of work before the age of 60;

  A new option to take a larger lump sum, up to 25% of the value of the pension, in return for giving up some of the pension, and

  Survivor pensions extended to partners in addition to widows, widowers and civil partners.

  For new NHS scheme members, the proposals include:

  A normal pension age of 65 and the right to take a pension after the age of 55;

  A final salary pension with 1/60th accrual rate for each year of service based on the average of the best three consecutive years of membership in the ten years before retirement (allowing staff to take a lower paid job in the run up to retirement but have their salary calculated on the higher salary they had before stepping down);

  The choice to convert up to 25% of the pension in to a lump sum, and

  A more flexible pension with the ability to take all or part of the pension while continuing to work and build up more pension.

  Both existing and new practitioners will have a career average scheme with the same benefits as the other staff. A new contribution rate system is proposed that will have lower contributions for the lowest paid and higher rates for the highest paid, with rates between 5% and 8.5%.

  It is proposed that the new scheme will start in 2007 with changes for existing staff from April 2008. From a date to be agreed, existing staff will be asked whether they wish to transfer into the new scheme.

  Teachers’ Pension Scheme

  The changes to the teachers’ scheme are based on those discussed and agreed at a UK-level by teachers’ employer and staff representatives and similar proposals are due to be implemented in England and Wales in January 2007. The Management Advisory Group (Scotland), consisting of Scottish teachers’ employer and staff representatives and the Scottish Executive have also agreed that the proposals are appropriate for consultation in Scotland. The consultation paper is being published by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency.

  For existing teachers’ scheme members, the proposals include:

  Keeping a normal pension age of 60 and minimum pension age of 50 (55 from 2010) except on the grounds of ill-health;

  Keeping a final salary pension with 1/80th accrual rate and 3/80th lump sum for each year of service based on the better of final salary or the average of the best three consecutive years of membership in the ten years before retirement (allowing staff to take a lower paid job in the run up to retirement but have their salary calculated on the higher salary they had before stepping down);

  A new option to take a larger lump sum, up to 25% of the value of the pension fund, in return for giving up some of the pension;

  Survivor pensions extended to partners in addition to widows, widowers and civil partners;

  Revised ill-health retirement package; a tiered approach and a higher level of benefits for total incapacity and lower level of benefit for partial incapacity;

  A more flexible pension with the ability to take all or part of the pension while continuing to work in a reduced capacity and build up more pension, and

  Death grant increased to three times salary.

  For new teachers’ scheme members, the proposals include:

  A normal pension age of 65 and minimum pension age of 55, except on the grounds of ill-health;

  A final salary pension with 1/60th accrual rate for each year of service based on the better of final salary or the average of the best three consecutive years of membership in the ten years before retirement (allowing staff to take a lower paid job in the run up to retirement but have their salary calculated on the higher salary they had before stepping down);

  The choice to convert up to 25% of the pension fund in to a lump sum;

  Survivor pensions extended to partners in addition to widows, widowers and civil partners;

  Revised ill-health retirement package; a tiered approach and a higher level of benefits for total incapacity and lower level of benefit for partial incapacity;

  A flexible pension with the ability to take all or part of the pension while continuing to work in a reduced capacity and build up more pension, and

  Death grant of three times salary.

  The members’ contribution rate will increase to 6.4% of pensionable salary and the employer contribution rate will increase to 13.5% in April 2007 when the new arrangements are planned to be introduced. The employer rate will probably have to increase further in April 2008, depending on the results of the 2005 scheme valuation for which information is currently being collated for assessment by the Government Actuary’s Department.

  For both schemes, it is proposed that future contribution rates will be based on actuarial assessments of the scheme and that, subject to significantly different overall cost pressures, the employee contribution rates in Scotland will be set to be equal to the employee rates set following the equivalent valuation in the relevant England and Wales scheme. In this way, the limits applying to the future employer rates in England and Wales will also apply in Scotland, ensuring that future pension costs to the employers are sustainable and that future cost increases are shared between employers and employees.

Refugees

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to entrepreneurship among refugees when compiling the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum action plan.

Malcolm Chisholm: Six themed sub-groups contributed to the development of the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum (SRIF) action plan including New Roots Scotland, a partnership of organisations involved in the economic integration of refugees. New Roots Scotland considered a range of issues when drafting the actions for the employment and training chapter including how to encourage entrepreneurship in the refugee communities.

  In addition, the Ethnic Minorities and the Labour Market strategic group considered issues around Entrepreneurship, Finance and Business support in meeting three. The meeting note can be accessed by the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality/18934/15832.

  The Ethnic Minorities and the Labour Market strategic group have made recommendations around the meeting topics.

  The key recommendations of both the Ethnic Minorities and the Labour Market Strategic Group and the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum will inform the National Race Equality Strategy and Action Plan which will be published in November 2006. Both group action plans will be available on the Scottish Executive website at the same time.

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many operational wind energy projects there have been in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area and showing also the total megawatt capacity and number of turbines in each area and giving year-on-year percentage changes.

Allan Wilson: Wind farm developments, in excess of 50MW, consented under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 which moved to operational mode in the last three years are detailed in the following tables:

  2004

  

 Wind Farm 
 Authority
 Turbines
 MW Capacity


 Rothes
 Moray
 22
 56



  2005

  

 Wind Farm 
 Authority
 Turbines
 MW Capacity


 Causeymire
 Highland
 *24
 55.2



  Note: *Includes extension granted for three additional turbines.

  2006

  

 Wind Farm 
 Authority
 Turbines
 MW Capacity


 Black Law
 S Lanark
 54
 124.2


 Farr
 Highland
 40
 92


 Paul’s Hill
 Moray
 28
 65


 Hadyard Hill
 S Ayrshire
 52
 120



  Comprehensive details of wind farm applications of 50Mw and below which are considered by local Planning Authorities under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 were provided in response to written parliamentary question S2W-26084. We do not however hold details of the year in which they first went operational.

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many wind energy projects have been approved in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area and showing the scale of each project in (a) megawatts and (b) number of turbines.

Allan Wilson: Details of wind farm applications consented under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for developments in excess of 50Mw in each of last three years are as follows:

  2004

  

 Wind Farm
 Local Authority
 Turbines
 MW


 Black Law
 South Lanarkshire, North Ayrshire, West Lothian
 54
 124.2


 Crystal Rig Ext
 Scottish Borders
 25
 62.5


 Farr
 Highland
 40
 92


 Braes of Doune
 Stirling
 49
 100



  2005

  

 Wind Farm
 Local Authority
 Turbines
 MW


 Crystal Rig Ext II
 Scottish Borders, East Lothian
 52
 90


 Causeymire
 Highland
 24
 55.2


 Paul’s Hill Ext
 Moray
 28
 65



  2006

  

 Wind Farm
 Local Authority
 Turbines
 MW


 Whitelee
 South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire
 140
 322



  Details of wind farm developments of 50Mw and below approved by planning authorities under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 were given in response to written parliamentary question S2W-26084. We do not hold details of the year in which they were approved.

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many wind farm applications it has (a) approved and (b) rejected in each of the last three years; how many applications are awaiting a decision, and what average length of time it has taken for applications to be approved, also showing longest and shortest waiting times.

Allan Wilson: Details of approved/rejected applications for wind farm developments under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 over the last three years are set out in the following table:

  Section 36 Wind Farm Applications

  

 
 2004
 2005
 2006


 Approved
 4
 3
 1


 Rejected
 0
 0
 1



  There are 32 applications currently under consideration.

  The current average time from receipt of application to decision is 22 months. This includes time taken by developers to produce an addendum to their application and/or information in response to issues raised by consultees.

  The longest time from application stage to determination is 51 months and the shortest is eight months.

Scottish Executive Procurement

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what IT procurement system it uses; when the system was introduced; how long any contract for the system will last, and what the overall cost is of such a contract.

Mr Tom McCabe: The core Scottish Executive uses the eProcurementScotl@nd service for the electronic approval and ordering of goods and services. The contract for this service, which includes additional functionality for eAuction and eTendering services, was awarded in November 2001, was fully operational from 2002 and is due to expire in 2008. The anticipated contract value for the Scottish Executive is £800,000 (including integration and test system costs).

Voluntary Organisations

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what system it has in place to monitor and reduce, where appropriate, the volume of regulations imposed on voluntary organisations and schools by the Executive, the UK Government, the European Union, local authorities and government agencies.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is strongly committed to ensuring that all regulations are implemented in a way which causes minimum disruption to all sectors and bodies, including the voluntary sector.

  All legislation emanating from the Scottish Executive which impacts on schools and voluntary organisations must be accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). The RIA is a policy tool to assist policy makers to think through and analyse the consequences of proposals in a disciplined and comprehensive way ensuring that we identify, and take fully into account before regulations are made, the effects on business, the voluntary sector and charities. The RIA helps to improve the way policy is formulated, planned and delivered - as good policy relies on providing informed and detailed advice to ministers. It is Scottish Executive policy that our departments and agencies that exercise statutory powers and make rules with a general effect on others should produce such an RIA wherever new regulations are proposed.

  Regulations emanating from Whitehall must also be accompanied by an RIA and increasingly this is also the case with regulations from Brussels.

Voluntary Organisations

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is currently supporting to promote volunteering among hard-to-reach groups.

Malcolm Chisholm: We work with partners, including Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS) to implement our volunteering strategy and attract people from socially diverse backgrounds to volunteering. VDS, together with a number of volunteer centres, takes forward a range of training and provides targeted resources to promote best practice across volunteer engaging agencies, including the promotion of volunteering opportunities to harder to reach groups. In addition, the Scottish Executive funds MV Awards (previously Millennium Volunteer Awards) which, through a national network of youth development workers located in local volunteer centres, aims to promote volunteering to all young people while prioritising harder to reach groups.

  Project Scotland, which also receives Scottish Executive funding, offers full-time volunteering placements to young people aged between16 to 25. Project Scotland’s range of support, which includes a subsistence allowance, allows many young people, who would perhaps not otherwise be able to do so, to take advantage of these opportunities.

  The Executive’s advertising campaign for volunteering specifically targeted harder to reach groups.

  Executive Departments also support a number of voluntary community projects for hard to reach groups in pursuit of their policy objectives, many of which may include a volunteering element.